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。 The war had now offered a new pretext for him to visit Don Marcelo's wine… vaults。
〃Let them come！〃 he would say with a heroic gesture as he took stock of his treasure trove。 〃Let them come when they will！ We are ready for them！〃
The care and increase of his provisions； and the investigation of news were the two functions of his existence。 It seemed necessary to procure ten； twelve； fifteen papers a day； some because they were reactionary； and the novelty of seeing all the French united filled him with enthusiasm； others because they were radical and must be better informed of the news received from the government。 They generally appeared at midday； at three； at four and at five in the afternoon。 An half hour's delay in the publication of the sheet raised great hopes in the public； on the qui vive for stupendous news。 All the last supplements were snatched up； everybody had his pockets stuffed with papers； waiting anxiously the issue of extras in order to buy them； too。 Yet all the sheets were saying approximately the same thing。
Argensola was developing a credulous； enthusiastic soul； capable of admitting many improbable things。 He presumed that this same spirit was probably animating everybody around him。 At times； his old critical attitude would threaten to rebel； but doubt was repulsed as something dishonorable。 He was living in a new world； and it was but natural that extraordinary things should occur that could be neither measured nor explained by the old processes of reasoning。 So he commented with infantile joy on the marvellous accounts in the daily papersof combats between a single Belgian platoon and entire regiments of enemies； putting them to disorderly flight； of the German fear of the bayonet that made them run like hares the instant that the charge sounded； of the inefficiency of the German artillery whose projectiles always missed fire。
It was logical and natural that little Belgium should conquer gigantic Germanya repetition of David and Goliathwith all the metaphors and images that this unequal contest had inspired across so many centuries。 Like the greater part of the nation； he had the mentality of a reader of tales of chivalry who feels himself defrauded if the hero； single…handed； fails to cleave a thousand enemies with one fell stroke。 He purposely chose the most sensational papers； those which published many stories of single encounters； of individual deeds about which nobody could know with any degree of certainty。
The intervention of England on the seas made him imagine a frightful famine； coming providentially like a thunder…clap to torture the enemy。 He honestly believed that ten days of this maritime blockade would convert Germany into a group of shipwrecked sailors floating on a raft。 This vision made him repeat his visits to the kitchen to gloat over his packages of provisions。
〃Ah； what they would give in Berlin for my treasures！〃 。 。 。
Never had Argensola eaten with greater avidity。 Consideration of the great privations suffered by the adversary was sharpening his appetite to a monstrous capacity。 White bread； golden brown and crusty； was stimulating him to an almost religious ecstasy。
〃If friend William could only get his claws on this！〃 he would chuckle to his companion。
So he chewed and swallowed with increasing relish； solids and liquids on passing through his mouth seemed to be acquiring a new flavor； rare and divine。 Distant hunger for him was a stimulant； a sauce of endless delight。
While France was inspiring his enthusiasm； he was conceding greater credit to Russia。 〃Ah； those Cossacks！〃 。 。 。 He was accustomed to speak of them as intimate friends。 He loved to describe the unbridled gallop of the wild horsemen； impalpable as phantoms； and so terrible in their wrath that the enemy could not look them in the face。 The concierge and the stay…at…homes used to listen to him with all the respect due to a foreign gentleman； knowing much of the great outside world with which they were not familiar。
〃The Cossacks will adjust the accounts of these bandits！〃 he would conclude with absolute assurance。 〃Within a month they will have entered Berlin。〃
And his public composed of womenwives and mothers of those who had gone to warwould modestly agree with him； with that irresistible desire which we all feel of placing our hopes on something distant and mysterious。 The French would defend the country； reconquering； besides the lost territories； but the Cossacksof whom so many were speaking but so few had seenwere going to give the death blow。 The only person who knew them at first hand was Tchernoff； and to Argensola's astonishment； he listened to his words without showing any enthusiasm。 The Cossacks were for him simply one body of the Russian armygood enough soldiers； but incapable of working the miracles that everybody was expecting from them。
〃That Tchernoff！〃 exclaimed Argensola。 〃Since he hates the Czar； he thinks the entire country mad。 He is a revolutionary fanatic。 。 。 。 And I am opposed to all fanaticisms。〃
Julio was listening absent…mindedly to the news brought by his companion； the vibrating statements recited in declamatory tones； the plans of the campaign traced out on an enormous map fastened to the wall of the studio and bristling with tiny flags that marked the camps of the belligerent armies。 Every issue of the papers obliged the Spaniard to arrange a new dance of the pins on the map； followed by his comments of bomb…proof optimism。
〃We have entered into Alsace； very good！ 。 。 。 It appears now that we abandon Alsace。 Splendid！ I suspect the cause。 It is in order to enter again in a better place； getting at the enemy from behind。 。 。 。 They say that Liege has fallen。 What a lie！ 。 。 。 And if it does fall； it doesn't matter。 Just an incident； nothing more！ The others remain 。 。 。 the others！ 。 。 。 that are advancing on the Eastern side； and are going to enter Berlin。〃
The news from the Russian front was his favorite； but obliged him to remain in suspense every time that he tried to find on the map the obscure names of the places where the admired Cossacks were exhibiting their wonderful exploits。
Meanwhile Julio was continuing the course of his own reflections。 Marguerite！ 。 。 。 She had come back at last； and yet each time seemed to be drifting further away from him。 。 。 。
In the first days of the mobilization； he had haunted her neighborhood； trying to appease his longing by this illusory proximity。 Marguerite had written to him； urging patience。 How fortunate it was that he was a foreigner and would not have to endure the hardship of war！ Her brother； an officer in the artillery Reserves； was going at almost any minute。 Her mother； who made her home with this bachelor son； had kept an astonishing serenity up to the last minute； although she had wept much while the war was still but a possibility。 She herself had prepared the soldier's outfit so that the small valise might contain all that was indispensable for campaign life。 But Marguerite had divined her poor mother's secret struggles not to reveal her despair； in moist eyes and trembling hands。 It was impossible to leave her alone at such a time。 。 。 。 Then had come the farewell。 〃God be with you； my son！ Do your duty； but be prudent。〃 Not a tear nor a sign of weakness。 All her family had advised her not to accompany her son to the railway station； so his sister had gone with him。 And upon returning home； Marguerite had found her mother rigid in her arm chair； with a set face； avoiding all mention of her son； speaking of the friends who also had sent their boys to the war； as if they only could comprehend her torture。 〃Poor Mama！ I ought to be with her now more than ever。 。 。 。 To…morrow； if I can； I shall come to see you。〃
When at last she returned to the rue de la Pompe； her first care was to explain to Julio the conservatism of her tailored suit； the absence of jewels in the adornment of her person。 〃The war； my dear！ Now it is the chic thing to adapt oneself to the depressing conditions； to be frugal and inconspicuous like soldiers。 Who knows what we may expect！〃 Her infatuation with dress still accompanied her in every moment of her life。
Julio noticed a persistent absent…mindedness about her。 It seemed as though her spirit； abandoning her body； was wandering to far…away places。 Her eyes were looking at him； but she seldom saw him。 She would speak very slowly； as though wishing to weigh every word； fearful of betraying some secret。 This spiritual alienation did not； however； prevent her slipping bodily along the smooth path of custom； although afterwards she would seem to feel a vague remorse。 〃I wonder if it is right to do this！ 。 。 。 Is it not wrong to live like this when so many sorrows are falling on the world？〃 Julio hushed her scruples with：
〃But if we are going to marry as soon as possible！ 。 。 。 If we are already the same as husband and wife！〃
She replied with a gesture of strangeness and dismay。 To marry！ 。 。 。 Ten days ago she had had no other wish。 Now the possibility of marriage was recurring less and less in her thoughts。 Why think about such remote and uncertain events？ More immediate things w